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Thinking of buying an M8


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Hey guys I've been using a DSLR for a while now and I've done a reading and I am seriously considering a Leica M8.

I planned on getting a 50mm Elmar f2.8 to go along with it (as that's as far as my budget goes for the time being) and I was wondering if the M8 is still a good camera?

Is the quality still good?

Does 10MP hold you back?

I'd be happy to have anyone's opinion on this topic and I'd love some feedback!

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Hi, I don't find the 10MP holds me back in any way at all. The images look way better than the spec suggests. I print A3+ and they look fine.

I don't bother with jpeg though and just shoot DNG.

Mono on the M8 is lovely, and its what I use it for mostly.

 

A 50mm lens on the M8 is equivalent to around 66mm on a 35mm Full Frame so for me as my only lens it would be too long, my advice would be to get a 28mm which is nearer to a 35mm equivalent on a FF camera, a very versatile and popular focal length. The Elmarit 28mm can be had for reasonable money (in the Leica world that is ;)) and the V3 of that lens has a very good reputation although it is quite large for is focal length.

 

I also like the Voigtlander lenses, the 40mm Nokton is equivalent to around 53mm if you wanted to go for that focal length, but it is nice to have at least one Leica lens.

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The camera quality is excellent. Watch out which Elmar you buy though. The Elmar-M 5/2.8 is considerably better than the Elmar 50/2.8 (confusing, isn't it ;))

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DC, welcome to the forum!

 

The Leica M8 remains an excellent digital camera performing beyond its nominal 10mp sensor size. If possible, buy from a Leica dealer who will normally include some limited warranty to tide you over your early ownership.

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Hey guys I've been using a DSLR for a while now and I've done a reading and I am seriously considering a Leica M8.

I planned on getting a 50mm Elmar f2.8 to go along with it (as that's as far as my budget goes for the time being) and I was wondering if the M8 is still a good camera?

Is the quality still good?

Does 10MP hold you back?

I'd be happy to have anyone's opinion on this topic and I'd love some feedback!

 

I must have read every thread written about the significance of the M8 in a modern world of DSLRs and mirrorless.

 

The bottom line is that the camera does a formidable job when compared to its current peers. I own a Nikon D800 and the M8 and the M8 gets used 90% of the time.

 

If you want to take it up a notch, check out Arvid Kuehl's website on how to access a secret mode and get 14 bits of dynamic range out of the M8's raw files. You have to do a button dance each time you power up, but the results can be worth it.

 

However, even stock the M8 delivers.

 

Do not forget the 1.33 crop factor for the M8 APS-H sensor size. My first lens was a Zeiss 28mm f/2.8, which yields approximately 35mm equivalent. 50mm may be too long for you as a first lens.

 

The Zeiss is very, very sharp and works very well with the M8.

 

Plan on a second battery or two. You only get about 300 shots per charge.

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I have both an M8 and an M9-P. There are a few things that I really like the M9-P better for, but frankly I could live with just the M8 95% of the time. (my only other digital cameras is a Panny GX-1.) The M8 remains competent and continues to give beautiful images. It has some interesting "undocumented features:" it can do IR pretty effortlessly, and its ooc b&w continues to amaze me as well.

 

The three Leitz lenses I have are from the '60s. The remainder of my kit is all Voigtlander. Cosina-Voigtlander produces amazing quality lenses and they're at bargain prices compared to the current Leica offerings.

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Daedra,

 

I have the M8 and the M(240). Your question is timely for me because just two days ago I took them both out and took identical photos with comparable lenses (e.g. 35 on M8 and 50 on M) of a variety of subjects, careful to use DNG, the same ISO, aperture, shutter speed and always on a tripod. Then I put them in LightRoom for some pixel analysis. Frankly, the difference in image quality was NOT "significant." The M8 makes great prints, too. I have enlarged M8 files up to 24" wide with very good results. I think the M8 is an awesome camera. The only reason I bought the M was to use my R lenses on it, but I have been disappointed with that set up, causing me to consider selling the M, which is why I did the comparisons. I wanted to know if I could live with just the M8 and not the M. The answer, for me, is yes.

 

On the other hand, the XVario is pretty awesome, too. IQ is very comparable to the M8 in my opinion but eliminates other worries such as lens/rangefinder calibration, or dust on the sensor. Worth considering before making the plunge.

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Absolutely live my M240, but would never bought it if it wasn't for Leica giving me a very good price on faulty M8.2.

The 10 megapixels are more than enough for me and I don't crop that very often.

Loved the colors (in bright daylight) and the b/w photos were lovely.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I am using M8, M9, and M240. I am still using M8 because it has its own characteristic image quality when we have appropriate light (flash or daylight) on base iso. High ISO is not great compared with newer cameras in dark situation but we can manage the weakness; carefully read light and use manual exposure.

I have made many satisfied images by M8, made large prints for various purposes and have never thought 10MP from M8 is not enough for 13X19 print.

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Everything said is true but you will have to be comfortable working the raw files through whichever digital PP suite you use. In my case I got a deal on the last version of Elements, the results after processing the DNG files through ACR is incomparable to the out of the camera JPEGs. I think given how amazing those raw files are the JPEG engine Leica put in their M cameras is possibly the worst I have ever seen. The B&W JPEG output looks nice but is soft compared to processing the DNGs.

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Frankly, the M8 punches way beyond it's weight, so to speak. My M8 images have been printed to 30" on the short side for professional use, just so you know. I recently tried an M240 and while an awesome camera with improvements over the M8 the improvements are not great enough to warrant buying an M240 (for me) at this time. I'll wait for the next iteration of the genre (and for Leica to get it right). I currently shoot an M8.2 which in my experience (I've also owned an M9-P) is the one Leica got right.

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10Mp it may be, but the lack of AA filter gives more detail and sharpness than a 10Mp SLR with one.

 

I always felt I got at least as much detail as my film shots, especially on films such as TriX, and I've compared directly between my M6.

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The M8 is still a wonderful camera, don't let your mind be clouded by the age and advertisements of new gear and or people thinking you are crazy to buy such a expensive/old camera.

 

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I am in the same situation, I bought a Leica X1 and one minute later my wife "stole it" from me, so now I am thinking in getting an X2 (I wish the lens was faster), or put more money together and get an M8 and the CV 35mm SC 1.4... Not interested in the T. But I also have a black Fuji X100, so I don´t know if I am going to see a significant change in image quality.

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I always felt I got at least as much detail as my film shots, especially on films such as TriX, and I've compared directly between my M6.

 

I am settling gradually into using my M7 bought recently for B&W film mostly at 100 ISO and the M8 for colour. I don't want to upset film fans but I just don't see results on colour print film comparable to the M8 in terms of depth/adjustability of colour and resolving of fine low contrast details on things like flowers the difference is huge (portra 400 v M8). Ektar looks impressive in the scans I get back but its Ektar and one has to be happy with its look. Fuji Acros has been fantastic though but 30 MP scans have been a real hard test of both me and the equipment, I guess that in reality with these sort of sensor sizes anything much over 10 MP becomes an increasingly difficult beast to get the best out of.

 

I may post some comparison shots at some point as I have photographed the flowers outside my house with both film and M8 and the same lenses but at different times.

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... The Elmar-M 5/2.8 is considerably better than the Elmar 50/2.8 (confusing, isn't it ;))

Especially to someone unfamiliar with Leica lenses and names when Elmar-M 50/2.8 is written as "Elmar-M 5/2.8".:o

 

DaedraCross, there are two basic versions of the 50 Elmar lens, an older version that was first released in 1957 and discontinued in 1972, and a later version that was released in 1997 and discontinued in 2007. The 50/2.8 Elmar-M is the more recent version, which typically produces higher contrast and sharper pictures, and the 50/2.8 Elmar is the older version that was produced in both Leica M mount and Leica screw mount and produces lower contrast pictures.

 

Both are very good lenses but I prefer the later version because I prefer the contrastier, sharper look but others prefer the lower contrast look so you can take your pick. The later version will have "Elmar-M" inscribed on the front ring. If you go for the earlier version then be sure to check the elements for haze, separation, fungus, or oil on the aperture blades as I feel sure you would for any used lens.

 

Pete.

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The M8 remains capable of great IQ - so much so that I still have and regularly use my original M8 (with the 1/8000s shutter speed :)) alongside the more recent ones - as long as you don't need clean high ISO.

10 MP is definitely not a limiting factor unless you print billboards and want to inspect them from close distance.

If funds allow, I'd go for an M8.2 (no 1/8000s, but less clunky) and a faster lens (f/2 or f/1.4 - CV lenses are indeed perfectly adequate) to keep ISO at manageable levels. And don't forget the UV/IR filter unless you convert all your shots to BW or like your blacks to turn magenta...

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi guys,

 

I have been lurking the forum for a couple of weeks now and me as well I'm trying to buy a Leica M8, I have already put my eyes on a couple of ebay auctions...

 

I'm coming from the DSLR as well, im actually a film maker which slowly started to get into photography...

 

I was just wondering is my M42 lenses will works good on the M8 (I have some nice vintage Helios i would love to keep using on the Leica) with the right converter...has anyone tryied yet?

 

I will definitely have a look at the Elmarit 28mm but I have to hold a couple of months as the M8 Body will dry out my savings :(

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